Whitebark Stream time don’t make it better

looking for some pups and/or adults he hasn't met yet. :)

the blackbird stayed close to the den, never wandering beyond the borders of his mother's milk-scent. his parents were nearby, should he need assistance, and so alsek felt confident enough to do some exploring alone.

the colorful wings of a moth drew his attention. the insect flew toward and landed atop the broken bough of a rotted tree, presumably taking its rest. intrigued, alsek toddled forward to investigate.

he kept absolutely silent in his approach. alsek drew onto his hindlegs and, using the branch for balance, patiently watched the moth's movements.

it would be a terrible thing indeed if surya was to move forward and startle the boy's small quarry.

instead, he lingered close by, still as a statue. his mouth was etched in a permanent, almost painful smile as he watched the scene unfold before him. perhaps it would have soured his attitude if he knew how similar it was to a scenario his birth-father found himself in once before. but he didn't, so he remained happy.

surya was sheltered in the shade of a still-brown shrub, fairly well camouflaged except for his startling green eyes. blink and you might miss him. only if (when, more likely) the moth fled would he move forward and try to befriend kavik's young son.

the child's paws made contact with the branch, startling the moth from its resting place. oh! he gasped. alsek chased the creature for some short distance before noticing the approach of something much larger.

a stranger! he screamed and fell onto his hindquarters, tears immediately beginning to form. why did everyone have to be so scary? alsek didn't think that surya would hurt him, but he was still too shaken to make much of an approach.

surya would not be the one to scare the moth away; the child himself took care of that. they then locked eyes, and he felt his stomach sink and twist as the boy screamed, looking distraught. he emerged from the shrubbery slowly, carefully, blinking gently at the pup to assure him he was no threat.

it's okay, chhotu, he said softly, settling himself down on his belly. there. he was low to the ground, no longer hovering over the boy. a small smile bloomed over his muzzle, his shoulders relaxed and his tail gently wagging behind him. it's okay. i'm a friend. my name's surya.

he had little experience with pups. he'd left the nest before a stint as babysitter to the newest crop. this was a test, of sorts.

would he be a good father? was that genetic, or learned?

somewhat unsure, he pushed his lower jaw forward to suck on the soft skin of his jowls. he sniffled and used a paw to wipe away the tears, though some did remain stained on his cheeks. what was he meant to do?

the adult made sounds unlike those which he'd heard before. alsek didn't know how surya had done it, but he knew that he wanted to learn, too. apprehension faded, he opened his mouth and tried his best to replicate the noise, murmuring: cha-sh-cha-sh...

surya couldn't resist smiling wider as the boy tried to speak. chhhohhttu, he drew the word out, walking a fine line between helpfulness and condescension. (he hoped he landed on the side of the former.) it means 'small,' because you're small. . .but you won't be small forever.

he cocked his head, raising his brows. what's your name? he asked, then added, chuckling, i can't call you chhotu when you're big.

were kavik or grezig watching? he enjoyed interacting with the boy for his own sake, but getting himself further into the parents'—and the pack's—good graces was beneficial. perhaps babysitting was his calling? it wasn't the most glamorous of pastimes, but it was helpful all the same.

their language lesson continued, but alsek wasn't retaining much. he listened to surya repeat the curious word and quietly did the same — chubu, chubu — to see how he the sounds might feel.

this didn't last long, though. alsek didn't understand enough of surya's speech to properly respond, so he decided to put his attention elsewhere. attitude now more mellow than before, he asked his companion, chubu? more nonsense babble followed as he began walking away, into the foliage.

well. . .close. but the little one latched onto the word, offering it as a tentative response while toddling into the brush. okay, surya responded with a chuckle, rising slowly to his paws and following at a respectful distance. he wasn't sure if the boy was trying to lead him somewhere or trying to get away from him.

at any rate, he was too tall and the foliage too thick to get far. chubu, he parroted, sticking his head into the greenery. he peered down at the pup, looking wry. i'm too big, yaar. i'll get stuck if i follow you. he hoped that the boy would emerge again. were those thorns he spotted. . .?

the sounds which came from this stranger's mouth were certainly interesting, but not enough to keep alsek's attention. he continued wandering through the thorny foliage without much regard for surya until realizing that his companion wasn't behind him anymore!

frustrated and shocked, alsek began the journey back to the surface. but before he could reach sunlight... no-no! he exclaimed, then caught by the bush's unrelenting grasp. his dark fur was entangled in the foliage, lending him no leeway with which to escape.

what was he meant to do now? alsek tried tugging himself away, worsening the injury.

oh—oh no. things went belly-up rather quickly as "chubu" found himself stuck, tugging to no avail. haaye bhagwaan, surya sighed, realizing he'd probably have to venture into the foliage himself to rescue the boy. at least, that was unless the pup didn't let him close enough. . .in which case, he'd have to summon a parent, which meant he'd probably be in hot water himself, and—

achha, i'm coming, surya announced, as calmly and quietly as he could muster. grimacing, he forced his way through the greenery, feeling his own pelt snagged by branches. ah! one particularly sharp thorn grazed his thigh, and he winced, hissing on an inhale.

he bent his muzzle down to reach the boy, close enough to tear away the offending plants with his teeth. stay still, surya commanded in a murmur. it's okay.

silent tears slid down either of the child's cheeks. his large blue eyes carefully tracked each of surya's movements, and though he couldn't be sure exactly what was happening, alsek was grateful that the pain was beginning to subside.

he did as he was told, never moving a muscle. and when the deed was finished, he remained plastered with fear. alsek looked expectantly into his savior's eyes, wondering what they might do next? they were caught in a quite difficult situation, as it were.

finally, the thorns were gone and the boy was free. surya looked down at the pup in bemused fashion. it would be much easier for the littler wolf to escape the foliage than the big one. still, he understood the fear that 'chubu' might find himself in, so. . .

you can make it out, he said gently, smiling. just go slow. one paw in front of the other. he began to back up very gingerly, not diverting his path in the least from the one he took entering the brush. see? if you're careful, you won't get stuck again.

so said surya. and if he were to get entangled in the process? well, it wouldn't be the first time he looked a fool. but he continued to move anyway, keeping his emerald gaze locked on the boy.

the blackbird followed each instruction given. each precise step was made with a steady exhale, though sometimes accompanied by a sniffle. he pushed his jaw forward and used his tongue to lick at the snot under his nose. 

the end of their plight was imminent. alsek could see the outside again and though he wanted to leap for joy, managed to contain his relief. he looked up at surya and smiled, then snuck through the adult's legs as though escaping from the depths of a dreary cave.

alsek watched surya complete his own extraction, then shrugged his shoulders and frowned. what happened?

you did it! surya exclaimed, once alsek had joined him out in the open. he smiled, forgetting even the sting the thorns had left behind. i told you it would be okay, chhotu. he said it slowly once more, wondering if the boy could get the hang of it.

had kavik been watching from the shadows? he could only hope, though it was a good thing that the rescue mission had been a success and not an abject failure.

he cocked his head. you have a sibling, right? he asked, then clarified, a brother or sister, i mean? he was certain the pup wasn't an only child; kavik's mate(?) had more than one youthful scent clinging to her den. was the other kid as adventurous? surya hadn't seen it, yet.

the small wounds earned during their exploration were forgotten upon seeing surya re-emerge. alsek could hardly contain his excitement; muffled screams of joy could be heard through closed teeth as he bounced in anticipation. CHU-BU! he exclaimed.

then remembering that his mother was somewhere nearby and uninterested in hearing such loud sounds, alsek lowered his voice. he might have taken that moment to respond to surya, had he been able to understand the question. instead, alsek mumbled some garbled baby noises and motioned back toward the den.

the boy's excited relief was infectious. surya found himself grinning ear to ear, muzzle stretched wide as the pup shouted his 'name.' he eventually quieted down, and in apparent answer to surya's question, he gestured toward the den.

the yearling mistook the movement as a sign the boy didn't want to play anymore. little wonder—they'd been through quite an adventure in the thorns. it was nice to meet you, chubu, he told the child, dipping his nose in a respectful nod. i'm sure i'll see you again soon. goodbye!

he left the boy to his own devices, padding away to make himself of use elsewhere.